[NTLUG:Discuss] two boxes together sort of

[Wayne Walker]

On Thu, Feb 08, 2007 at 04:21:16PM -0600, Fred James wrote:
> All
> I use one Linux box with multiple serial cards to connect to console on 
> multiple IRIX servers.  These IRIX boxes also each have an AUX port for 
> (among other things) power cycling the boxes.  I am getting a second 
> Linux box with multiple serial cards to connect to these AUX ports.
Rather than getting another machine and special serial ports, the USB to
serial devices work rather well.

> I connect to the first Linux box by ssh to a static IP - no problem.
> I could connect to the second box the same way, but I am wondering ... 
> is there a fairly simple way to connect the two Linux boxes so that I 
> could ssh to the first and then "slip over" to the second to use 
> something like minicom there?
Yes, on the second machine add a line like this to /etc/inittab:

co:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty ttyS0 9600 vt100-nav

connect the two machines with a null modem cable.

Run minicom on the first machine and you should be able to see the login
prompt after hitting enter once.

You should also look for a serial concentrator app instead of just
running minicom.  There's a good one for linux, but I can't remember the
name right now.

A quick search on freshmeat for "serial console" returns 12 projects.
Conserver is the one I think I remember having highly recommended to me.

-- 

Wayne Walker

www.unwiredbuyer.com - when you just can't be by the computer

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